Creative Writing – What was on Malchus’ mind?

Who is Malchus? He is mentioned in the Bible only once in only one of the 4 Gospel accounts (John 18:10). I should take you back to the Garden of Gethsemane right after Jesus was done praying to His Father in his dark hour…the last free night before he got arrested and taken to the cross the following day. Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus came along with the Priest’s servants to arrest Jesus. As Judas betrayed Jesus handing him over, the guards/ Priest’s servants took hold of Jesus and tied him up. Then, Simon Peter jumped forward and cut off the ear of one of the servants with his sword. “The servant’s name was Malchus - His name is mentioned by neither of the other evangelists, nor is it said by the other evangelists who was the disciple that gave the blow. It is probable that both Peter and the servant were alive when the other gospels were writte” (E-Sword Comment on John 18:10). So here we go. I have been very intrigued by the character of Malchus. He actually is a minor character in the Passion of the Christ. After watching the Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson, I focused more on the side characters in the events. Malchus, one of the Priest’s servants came alive for me especially last Thursday when I watched it last. Getting into the character: He must have been an important one of the guards since he was chosen to go and arrest Jesus in the evening hours of the day before Jesus was crucified. My thoughts started to go with the flow of this situation. Here is what could have been going on in Malchus’ mind during the scene in the garden of Gethsemane: “Here we go. We found this guy, this blasphemous man. I wonder if he is really guilty. He does not look like it.” This is when Judas came forth and kissed Jesus calling him – My Rabbi – which is an official title of honor (Mark 14:45). “Ok, now we know it’s him. Let’s just arrest him.” At this moment, Simon Peter jumped forth, ready to defend Jesus cutting Malchus’ right ear off. “Oh my……what just happened? Is this Galilean crazy? What is this excruciating pain? My right ear?????Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?” As Malchus goes down in deep pain holding the right side of his head, Jesus reprimands his disciple, speaks and reaches out his hand, touching Malchus’ right side of his head and healing and restoring it completely (Luke 22:51). “What is happening? I cannot put this into words? My ear? My ear? My ear!” This moment is the moment that intrigues me the most. What must Malchus have felt, have thought? I bet there are no words, only appreciative silence and surprise, a gasp maybe and then…. Then Malchus could hear again, his right ear was back where it belonged. WOW. Malchus had a visitation from the Lord himself. He was healed and restored by Jesus in one little instant in the later hours of the day before Jesus’ crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane. I wonder how this must have felt. I have felt Jesus’ hand in healing myself but not in such a physical way. I am not here to draw attention to this healing. I want to draw attention to the encounter that Malchus had with the living Son of Man: Jesus Christ. He looked into Jesus’ eyes. I like the way Mel Gibson portrayed the scene. According to his movie, Malchus fell down on his knees suffering from the pain when Jesus got on his knees in front of Malchus and touched his right ear to heal it. In this second he looked deep into Malchus’ eyes. The moment freezes for me. It becomes eternity itself. A moment of deep healing and restoration. After that, Malchus stays on his knees deeply in awe watching the other guards taking Jesus away. He cannot move. He is amazed and touched. He had an encounter with Jesus. We all need an encounter with Jesus to understand that HE is real, He is true and He is the way to eternity! One encounter with HIM and we are never the same again. Malchus was not the same man after that night. That is what I am very sure about! The name Malchus means: My King - I wonder if Malchus thought that after his encounter witht he Living God??

THOUGHTS ON HEALING

It has been a while and time really flies these days. I feel inspired to share some thoughts about HEALING since we start up new healing groups at Coastlands Community Church next month. Healing sounds easy and desirable. Yet, it is really hard work in different ways. First it requires a hard look at oneself...Denial has to go out the window. This first step is one of the hardest. Denial is hard to pass by and honestly, I believe that only a realization given by the Holy Spirit can bring about the change and let one look at oneself in the light of truth. After the wall of denial starts crumbling down, pain begins to surface….pain and fear. Pain and fear are not easy to handle. I would even say that everyone instantly wants to run away or cover up all of it. That is where the journey towards healing can end for a lot of people who cover up their pain and fear under lots and lots of different things. Believe me, that is the easy way out….it is an instinct to do just that. Furthermore, it takes more than will power and a conscious decision to look at the pain. Yet, if one wants change and healing, there is only one way. It is a process and it nothing changes in a day. It is a choice to go through the pain instead of around it. There are no short-cuts when healing is concerned. I don’t like that part and would love to run away every time pain surfaces…but that are definitely is not the answer. Besides, I have experienced it more than one time when I let the pain surface and look at it and let Jesus take it away, then do heal and change. I do know that it is not an easy road, but it is def. the most rewarding road ever. I have seen people set free from bondages, from pain, from fears. There is such beauty about the new and changed person…a beauty that comes from deep within. My heart and passion is for healing even though it is a hard road.

Becki Rusk

This post if about Becki Rusk. I met her nearly 2 years ago here in CapeTown. She came with her husband John to have COastlands Community Church to be their base and home church for when I travel. They are missionaries. I really like Becki and even now that she sngs with the angels int throneroom and is with Jesus, I cannot stop thining about her. She went to be with Jesus after 8 months of ling cancer. I enjoyed her so much while she was here. She was a real servant - someone who listened very well. Whenever I see lavenar bushes I think back of her andhow she would stop and smell them before wlking on. I love her laughter and her smiles. She really ad a gentle soul. When I drive arond here in Table View,there are so many little memories that pop up daily. I never saw her upset. When we had a small gorup that met every friday at 5:30am and I was not able to get my car, Becki would come and pick me up, take the extra time - it blessed me tremendously. She always had this peace about her, she was centered in Jesus and I could see it, feel it , even smell it. One day I met with her at the mall. It was shortly after Johnand her had moved here, found a place to stay. Becki told me that day tha she had always loved working out and walking but that there was not really a good possibility to do that here. Then she thought of walking around the mall for an hour with me....we walked and talked during that time, sahred hearts...and hse got her workout!! Whenever I am in the gym right now, I think of her. THen our outing to Paternoster: It was an outreach and Becki wanted to go so bad. She was already in pain during that time but did not know about the cancer. She drove and we took 2 of the YOuth and Zaks with us. It was an awesome experience that I will never forget. I guess I cosnider myself very blessd to have spent time with her. I miss her and my heart and prayers go out to John, her mom Novella and her dad Ralph and to all the family. Gone too soon..... but then God must have really wanted her with HIM....

My Personal Trainer

I’ve been going to the gym now for 4 weeks and I actually love it every time. I even have my personal trainer. How? – You might ask. A personal trainer is very expensive! I don’t pay a cent for my personal trainer. Let me explain. As I go and train, it is a still quiet voice that spears me on: “Come on, Kerstin, you can do 5 more. Kerstin, you can do it, I KNOW you can!” It is a voice that challenges me to go further and to succeed. This encouraging voice belongs to my Lord, to the same Lord that actually got me into this gym. I am not only going to gym, but I am in the gym of my life and training the muscles of faith, of trust, of patience, of persistence. My personal trainer is teaching me discipline right now and I am so thankful for that. I cannot even begin to put into words how thankful I am for my Personal Trainer. He has many different names, yet HE is ONE.

DOT

This is a little story about my new friend: a pigeon  Yes, a Pigeon! A week ago, while I was reading a book in the late afternoon, a bird smashed against the windows of my sliding door in the lounge. I got up and looked down in my neighbor’s garden (quite concerned). There she was (yes, I decided it is a SHE), the Pigeon. She was sitting on the grass….and seemed quite anxious and confused. I began speaking to her (yes again, I do speak to animals…..my neighbor calls me Dr. Dolittle hehe). Then I went back to reading my book. 5 minutes later, the Pigeon flew up to my balcony and sat down..making herself comfortable. She observed me as I started to blink my eyes and after a short while she did the same. It was soooo cute. She stayed a few more hours that evening before she left. Next morning as I went into the lounge to have breakfast there she sat, totally at ease watching me. I thought that was rather cool . She watched me have breakfast and reading my Bible. Then I laid down on my couch and did the blinking game again with her. I felt connected but not just to a little Pigeon…more so to her Creator, to God and I was thankful for such a sweet company! I named this sweet Pigeon DOT :)

How I went from 2009 to 2010

I loved the way my church here in Table View/Cape Town celebrated the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010. We were to come to church at 9pm on New Year’s Eve. Instead of meeting in the sanctuary, we met in our Coffee area. One of the men started a big fire in the back and we all started to nibble at finger food we all had brought. We chatted away and our worship leader entertained us with fun songs on the guitar. Around 10:30pm, we all came out to the fire and worshipped God. After that a time of testimonies followed. We could stand up and thank God for certain things in 2009. After a hard and challenging year, this was about getting into a mood of thankfulness. I was really moved. This is what I shared that night (only about an hour before it was officially 2010). “

I am so thankful for this year. It has been quite a challenging one in a lot of aspects. Yet I have observed a sincere growth in me, a change that I think is a miracle. At the beginning of the year, we challenged to GROW DEEPER WITH JESUS and I am thankful for seeing that in my life. I know God has healed me more. I was able to see my parents for a month, to visit with friends in Germany and the States which actually meant a lot to me. I was able to get my own apartment after such a long time of sharing living space. I am also thankful that Coastlands Community Church has become more of a home for me. 2009 was full of victories. Thank you God for 2009 and may 2010 be even better

” Now 2010 is here and as a church we are challenged by God to KEEP IT SIMPLE this year.

LOng time no see - 2010

Long time no see. I think I upload some pics to share my last few weeks with you. Happy New year!!!! it is finally here: 2010!!!

My adventure on this monday evening!

This was another Monday. I worked at the office and came home to take a nap. After I made myself a little something to eat, I relaxed on the couch. It was warm, so I had the windows wide open. After a little snooze on the coach, I heard my neighbors come, so I opened my door to say HI. As I stepped out, my door banged shut. The wind had created quite a drift. Bang. So now I stood outside (not even shoes on) and my cell phone, my keys and car keys and everything was in my apartment!! Oh man!!!! At this moment, my neighbor from the other side (her name is Beauty) came with her daughter. I realized that my big window was open so maybe if I find a big ladder, I could ask my downstairs neighbors if I can go through to their yard and tackle my flat from the back. Beauty works at a school only 5 minutes from our complex and she knows the genitor. “They have such a big ladder, Kerstin. Let’s go”. So after Beauty’s daughter gave me her shoes, Beauty and I went to the school, got the ladder and came back with it (this was quite a sight). We asked my neighbors that live underneath me and they let us through into their yard. From there, I climbed this ladder. Boy, what an adventure. I got in, got my own shoes and went out to help Beauty carry the ladder back. God shoed His favor in such a great way!! If I had not opened the windows…..if my neighbors underneath me had not been there…..if I had not found a ladder…… I am surrounded by awesome neighbors and engulfed by a great great God!!!

My 2little Princes

I need to tell you about my neighbors. I do have quite a few lining in this complex but I am extremely blessed by the ones living to my left. There are two little boys called Michael and Dexter. They are my little Princes. I love spending time with them outside watching them crawl and recently walk. I call them sweetie crawlies. They love to explore and when they smile….my world is alright, when they cry, my heart cries, too…when I can hold them, I am blessed. Here are some pics of my sweetie crawlies, my little Princes Michael and Dexter!!!!

Adventure in Cape Town

This was my first real trip to downtown Cape Town without a car. Shirley and I went last Saturday. We went on a bus. That alone was already a little adventure for me because I never sue the bus on my own here. Let me tell you that that bus "was flying" over the roads. Pretty "hectic" stuff. However, Shirley and I arrived safely at the Green Market where we spent some time looking around. I did not try to look to interested in the things people were selling. As soon as I did though, I had them ask me: "What do you want to pay for this, Ma'am? Tell me, I make it cheap". I saw tons of stuff. We passed the area with all the take away food nick nacks and I found TUPPERWARE...so cool. There was even a stand with Christmas CDs. After a nice coffee and some Italian pizza,we headed back. Thank you Shirley for a great day out and about!!

Habakkuk and Ibex :)

A few weeks ago I head a "hell" of a week. I think it is safe to say that the week stretched into a month of hard time. Being on this side, I can tell you it is a hard time.Emotionally, I am battling but I know that God wants me to embrace this time. I know that HE is using this so I better start learning I guess. I think of that post and I still feel lile the woman , the statue ont he pic I used. Now a new month has begun...I am shaking my head...feeling a bit like Job....I could ask questions: Why?? - but he also learned in his situation, he said: blessed be the name of the Lord. Boy, I can learn from Job. On sunday, I watched a great show on National Geographic on IBEX. First, when I heard that word Ibex ( Are you ready for some German crazyness?), I thougth: Eyebacks hehehe Anyway, as I watched and listened I thougth of Habakkuk 3 that I had started to read. In verse 18 and 19 it reads int he NIV: yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. As I saw those Ibex hopping from cliff to rock and rock to cliff, I thought back to the "deer", the "surefooted deer" as in New King James Verson of the same verse. Habakkuk must have thought of the IBEX. SO I watched those Ibex, those wild goats in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea. Horns on bucks grow up to 120 cm / 48 inches long, and have 24-36 knobs on the outer curve. Those horns are hollow so when the bucks fight and smach their horns against each other, they won't get hurt. It is amazing. They will have their babies on the top of a mountain front, but then they need to climb down every day for food. Climbing down the wall of death is what fascinated me the most. Seeing those IBEX having such a sure footing really was amzing. Ibex are of the goat family, Capra but have further developed short muscular limbs with rubbery hooves to enable their survival on the rough, rocky mountains and stony screes they defend as their own. The males of this agile species have also developed the longest and most heavily reinforced horns, seen in mature adults, crowning them king of their mountains. I am and stay amazed and as Habakkuk three ends in the NKJV: 19 The LORD God [a] is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. Yes, MY GOD WILL get me over this high hill , HE WILL!!

plain EVIL

I am telling you now why I call this post PLAIN EVIL. Yesterday as part of my job for a saturday clean up, I had to water the plants in our two gardens and remove any type of weed. The watering was great as I also watered myself a bit (laugh). That wasn't bad at all because summer has started here in Cape Town and the sun was out....so a splash of cold water was awesome. As I was watering the plants a "plant" caught my eye. It looked nice, yellow and seemed two embrace the normal plant. As I kneeled down adn looked underneath, I saw a network of roots: this was a major weed. The more I tried to get to the root, the main root of this big weed, I got disgusted: it was huuuuge and it was deep in the ground.As I was digging I found another one of that kind. I thougth:

These ones are plain evil!! They disguise themselves as being nice and beautiful colourful plants but in reality they are evil and not good- in reality they actually take the water, the plants should get."

As I was praying, I could see so easily how that one was an illustration of sins in my life and of lies from the devil. They can sound so real, so right but are meant to do evil. When I don't look at things in my heart, my garden in there will be infested by such plain evil soon because evil grows...... We heard our Pastor preach this morning about Godly desire and good intentions and how good intentions can be just like those weeds.....looking good on the outside but no eternal value.

I desire more of God in me